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49
Talks in schools covered a wide range of subjects suited to
the age of the pupils and as requested by Head Teachers, included
social relationships, marriage, procreation, care of baby,
physical and emotional development, dental care, home safety,
cancer education, venereal diseases, nutrition, parent/child
relationship, care of the elderly and handicapped, smoking and
other related topics. Use is made, where appropriate, of such
visual aids as slides, films, etc.
Home safety campaign
This campaign was held from the 3rd to 8th November, 1969 and
again took the form of an exhibition from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
daily at one of the Health Centres in Worth Kensington, a part of
the borough particularly at risk to fire and other home accidents.
This year it was held at the Lancaster Road Health Centre.
Valuable assistance was given by the London Fire Service and the
Electricity and Gas Boards, who provided exhibits demonstrating home
safety measures in the use of their services. Demonstrations of
escape from fire and of resusitation were provided by the British
Red Cross Society and emphasis was also laid, with the aid of
practical examples, on the dangers of highly inflammable as opposed
to non-inflammable wear for children. All schools in the borough
were approached and many agreed to display home safety posters before
and during the week of the campaign. In some schools, Head Teachers
agreed to lectures and film shows on this subject by professional
staff of this department. Some pupils took part in a painting
competition with home safety as its theme and small monetary prizes
were presented to children producing the best paintings. Parties of
school children visited the exhibition. Teams of health visitors
from each of the Health Centres prepared stands illustrating
hazards in the home. The foyer of the Royalty Bingo Hall in
Lancaster Road was kindly made available by the management and Health
Visitors prepared and attended an exhibition stand to attract the
interest of patrons. This stand showed, among other things, items
commonly used in the home, which can, if not properly maintained and
carefully used, be dangerous.
Health Visitors took every opportunity to stress health
education topics at the mothers' clubs held at Health Centres; this
is also done at ante-natal classes and at the clubs held for elderly
persons. Subjects dealt with included infant feeding, psychoprophylaxis,
fresh air, sleep and posture, "Home from hospital",
cookery and diet, "Keep Fit", bottle feeding, chest health, bathing
baby and other related subjects.
Co-operation with maternity hospitals
At St. Stephen's and St. Mary's (Harrow Road) Hospitals,
arrangements were made for Health Visitors to visit the hospitals
once a week to talk to recently-delivered mothers on the general
theme of "Going Home" and deal with the problems of the first few
days after return home with the new baby.